Pyrenees rides

tubaonwheels

I am planning on spending a bit of time in Pyrenees on the way back from Spain in our campervan next year. Thinking of a couple of days on Spanish side around Bielsa then over border and thinking of Luz st saveur as a base for a few days so I can have a crack at Tourmalet.
Any other good rides in these areas? I will be taking just my mtb (to give me freedom of all sorts of riding) but will lock out sus and have slicks on for road rides.
Will probably be there late may early june.
Steve.

marcusjb

Do remember that it may not be possible to ride up Tourmalet until mid-June (above photo is 3rd June 2013 from http://www.pyreneescyclingtravel.com/ph ... -open-2013 ). This year was an extremely late winter and that led to the horrendous flooding and destruction of the western approach to Tourmalet.

There are so many good climbs in the area it's hard to even scratch the surface unless you have a couple of good weeks out there.

Col d'Aubisque, Aspin, Hautacam, Hourquette d'ancizan, Peyresourde etc. etc. (and that's just some of the famous ones).

There are some beautiful lesser known climbs.

marcusjb

There is also some fabulous riding on the Spanish side with climbs and areas which are very little used. Really beautiful - the hills are generally peaking at 1000-1300m, so a fair bit smaller than the big boys, but often steeper and mostly just beautiful.

This one near Laspuna was a favourite (just streetviewed a random point on it):

http://goo.gl/maps/GDwwg

This one near Laguarres was stunning:

http://goo.gl/maps/prmEF (again just a random point on it!)

Day 2 of a recent little mini-tour I did may give you some ideas:

http://www.strava.com/activities/82386058

There's a write up of the whole adventure (600km in 2.5 days over 15000 metres of climbing - it was fun):

http://marcusjb.wordpress.com/2013/10/3 ... nees-2013/

tubaonwheels

Cheers Marcus, yes, I have seen that very same picture on a motorhome forum, I won't be venturing over if there is a lot of snow about, I think they were rather freak conditions though.
Scratching the surface is about all I'm capable of these days and the Mrs would not be too keen if all my time was spent on the bike. Some great ideas for me to look at though, thanks again.

VeloPeloton

You should expect Col du Tourmalet to be open on or about Friday 16th May 2014. It is often possible to ride up there before that, in 2012 I rode to the summit on 6th May. Cirque du Litor is usually the last to open, first week in June.

There are plenty of other cols to do in the valley.
http://www.pyreneescyclinglodge.com/ride-the-cols/

mrc1

Sounds like a great plan and well worth spending some time in the area. If you are staying in Luz then make sure you include Luz Ardiden, which is one of my favourite climbs in the Pyrenees. If you are on your MTB then you could even check out some of the MTB trails which intersect the road at various points on your way back down!

dusk

I rode from Arreau over the Aspin then up the Tourmalet, hard work if it's hot but a great ride.

mrc1

dusk wrote:

I rode from Arreau over the Aspin then up the Tourmalet, hard work if it's hot but a great ride.

Great ride - our base is just up the road from Arreau in Saint Lary Soulan!

tubaonwheels

I hope the weather is good enough for us to get there - as my appetite has been well and truly whetted! I've always loved mountains, more on foot than wheels in the past (ex fell runner). I will have to get some serious training in though to be able to fully enjoy the experience.
I do usually manage to get out nearly every day on bike on trips like these so as we are setting off mid March it should give my time to build a reasonable base. Also should be able to find some good climbs around the sierras near Murcia etc. which we should reach early April, and then slowly work our way back.

Intend returning home in time for the Tour depart in sunny Yorkshire.

Peak Times

For someone from your area you should not miss the opportunity of riding some of the Cols that surround Bagneres de Luchon (twinned with Harrogate) and that are likely to be covered widely in the press leading up to the Grand Depart. There is a good camping car base next to the river and the aerodrome in Luchon where you can hit the tour cols (Portillon, Peyresourde and Bales) very easily indeed, but also where your wife can enjoy the town, the shopping the spa etc. There is also an abundance of single track and fantastic downhill to test your suspension on.

tubaonwheels

I suppose a lot depends on weather where we make our base, but will certainly bear that in mind as I went to school in Harrogate.
Will give any techy suspension sapping downhills a miss though, too old and battle scarred for that

mercia_man

As a 60 year old fell runner and new campervan owner, I seem to have something in common with you, Steve. Your forthcoming trip is just the sort of thing I'm hoping to do this year after 25 years of cycle camping in the mountains. It's getting increasingly tough every year to haul that gear up the Pyrenees and Alps.

Last year did see exceptionally bad weather in the Pyrenees. I went out early June when there was still lots of snow on the mountains and many passes blocked. I crossed into Spain over the Pourtalet and then had a fantastic time on really quiet mountain roads on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees. I can recommend the Ordesa national park for wonderful mountain walking. It's got some of the most spectacular scenery I've ever seen. There's a good campsite nearby at Broto.

I returned to France via the Port de la Bonaigua but was then trapped just a few miles before the French border in the Aran valley which was completely cut off to both north and south by the worst storms and most devastating floods I've ever been in. I was evacuated from my campsite at 6 am, just three hours before the swollen river washed it away, carrying wooden chalets downstream and smashing caravans to matchwood. I stayed in a hotel for a couple of days but managed to escape from the valley by pushing my bike up a steep field and picking up the Col du Portillon. Car driving holidaymakers couldn't get out of the valley because the main road both ways had been washed away and covered by landslides. Dropping down to Luchon, it was a sea of mud, landslides and floods. I felt so sorry for the local people.

Hopefully, the weather will be better for you! On the French side, there's plenty of great rides although the roads are steep. The Tourmalet is superb while the Aspin is a relatively easy introduction to passes in that area. I really like the Port de Bales. It's a hard ride but very quiet with glorious views across flower-filled meadows towards the snow-capped Spanish border.

tubaonwheels

We will have to meet up Mercia Man. A fair bit in common I'd say. I am also 60 and more an ex fell runner, knees not up to too much running these days - but I still can't resist a nice hill. do you run for Mercia? some top runners come from that club. I ran for Wakefield on road, track, xc and fell - though they had very few fell runners.
Thanks for the tips,
Steve.

mercia_man

Hi, Steve. Yes, I run for Mercia and enjoy road and fell races. We have some of the top male and female fell runners in Britain, including former UK champion Tim Davies. My proudest moment was being the slowest and oldest member of Mercia's silver medal winning supervets team in the national fell relays in the Lomond Hills in Scotland in 2010. I'm currently leading the V60 class in the Shropshire winter fell series. Fingers crossed.

It's interesting how many fell runners are also keen cyclists. I only took up running six years ago but found that my many years of cycle touring in the mountains gave me the ability to run up hills. Coming down is a different matter! Because I only came to running late in life, I've managed to remain relatively injury-free.

I love the Pyrenees for cycling although the passes are generally steeper than the Alps. If you are staying at Luz, you could also try riding up to Gavarnie for spectacular scenery on a there and back ride. It's the French side of the Ordesa national park mountain massif. And for a really easy ride, there's an excellent former railway cycle track down the valley to Lourdes. I picked it up from Argeles and rode down to Lourdes but it looks on the map as if it goes all the way back up into the mountains to Cauterets. You could then continue to Pont d'Espagne - another beautiful place.

Pete

tubaonwheels

Brilliant stuff Pete! Good luck with the series, just try and avoid injury eh. Our sporting paths seem to be reversed, as I came to cycling after a long running career. I think I've got off fairly lightly regarding long term problems as I had the sense (for once) to cut down the running as soon the signs of knee damage became obvious. I did always find though that running the fells was a lot easier on the body than road and track running.

My sights are already set on riding up to Gavarnie and back, I really hope the weather is kind to us and we can get to the area ok. I might even be able to get the mrs out on her bike for that cycle track - about her limit

Steve.

mercia_man

That cycle track to Lourdes would be a perfect jaunt for you and your mrs, Steve. Good surface and flat riding. I was so glad to find it after I descended the Tourmalet as the main road is really busy. I rode the Tourmalet east to west and it was packed with retired gents on their bikes! A great experience. Lourdes is tacky and touristy but interesting and even moving to see all the pilgrims going to the grotto and singing Ave Maria. I got into cycling as an early mountain biker in 1986, later switching to touring and road bikes, and reckon that the secret of getting up those Pyreneean passes is to spin a low gear.

As for running, I'm laid up with a cold that's gone to my chest so I'm looking at maps instead and planning holidays with my campervan. But I'm hoping to get back competing next month.

And if you are ever in Shropshire, drop me a line and we can talk running, cycling and camper vans!

Pete

VeloPeloton

Mercia Man wrote:

I love the Pyrenees for cycling although the passes are generally steeper than the Alps. If you are staying at Luz, you could also try riding up to Gavarnie for spectacular scenery on a there and back ride. It's the French side of the Ordesa national park mountain massif. And for a really easy ride, there's an excellent former railway cycle track down the valley to Lourdes. I picked it up from Argeles and rode down to Lourdes but it looks on the map as if it goes all the way back up into the mountains to Cauterets. You could then continue to Pont d'Espagne - another beautiful place.

Pete

The bike path (Voie Verte - Green Way) runs from Lourdes to Cauterets. Between Lourdes and Pierrefitte-Nestalasis is tarmac.
http://www.af3v.org/-Fiche-VVV-.html?voie=1#

The remaining 10km climb to Cauterets is gravel.
http://www.af3v.org/-Fiche-VVV-.html?voie=248

tubaonwheels

If we get a nice day that looks like a nice ride up to Cauterets. My wife could then chill a bit whilst I explore up to Pont d'Espagne or even some off road tracks. I'm getting the feeling I may need to allow for more than a few days!

tubaonwheels

Plan at the moment is to get to Spanish side around 25th May (within day or 2) and stop at Camping Labuerda Pena Montenesa near Ainsa. Have a few days there and maybe get to Ordesa then head over the border around 28th weather permitting. Hopefully will be able to spend about a week in the area. May be posting on here to check on weather conditions nearer the time if that's ok.
Steve.

VeloPeloton

Should be no problem crossing through the Aragnoute tunnel.

tubaonwheels

Ah cheers. Just whether ok to get over Aspin and Tourmalet if going to Luz then? I suppose if passes are closed (to campervan) then will have to stay to the east of Aspin. Good to know I won't have to change onward route too much if there is snow about.
Thanks again.

mrc1

If you do end up staying east of the Aspin then there are plenty of options for the camper in and around Saint Lary. We have used http://www.camping-le-rioumajou.com lots of times over the last seven or so years and it's a great place to stay that is open throughout the year. Plenty of viable riding options from Saint Lary at that time of year including the Pla d'Adet which hosts a TdF stage finish this year and is one of my favourite ever climbs.

tubaonwheels

Funnily enough I just pencilled that one in last night, as it's an ACSI site and we can stay for 14 euros a night. Will stop there a couple of nights at least either way. Will be great to see a couple of different areas, Thanks mrc1.

tubaonwheels

Starting to acquire a bit of climbing fitness now. Was at Totana for a week last week and had a couple of rides up Sierra Espuna, one up the road from Alhama the other via Aledo. Also got a couple of good hilly mtb rides in so slowly getting some fitness into these old legs.
Got family with us for a few days now so riding restricted a bit, but will be around Calpe way in a few days so should be getting some hilly rides in again then.

sbbefc

Just watched a programme about pyrenees bears, any chance id see them? Going there in 6 weeks.

tubaonwheels

Did a nice hilly 50 miler today from Vall de Laguar, sweet 5 mile climb up to Vall de Ebo from Pego, then very undulating route via Alcala and Castell de le Castells. Big Climb up and over to Benimaurell to finish.

As for Pyrenees bears......I'll keep my eyes open when I get there.

sbbefc

Just need to sort accommodation, any one know any decent places to stay in St Girons, bagneres de luchon, Argelez Gazost/Lourdes and pau? I wont be carrying a tent so looking for places with a bed and close to bars/pubs.

Thanks

tubaonwheels

Well, heading to the Pyrenees today. Should be in the Spanish foothills this afternoon at Camping Pena Montanesa, south of Bielsa. Been out on mountain bike last few days at Lake Caspe, good fast undulating riding with no big hills. Weather has been a bit mixed so probably breaking me in for what the mountains have to offer.
Feeling pretty fit (for an old un) but hard to tell.
Hope Tourmalet is open in a week or so....

tubaonwheels

First ride in the Pyrenees was a belter! From campsite near Ainsa to Escalona and up into the Ordessa Park along a stunning gorge. From the top of the gorge climbed another 2 miles to Buerba, then a lovely (if rough in places) descent back to Escalona and to camp. 33 beautiful miles.

Steve.

tubaonwheels

Had a break in the weather yesterday so rode up Luz Ardiden, great climb and nice swoopy descent. Not convinced I'll be able to do Tourmalet as weather is crap and not forecast to improve much next few days. Not got much in the way of 'winter' gear with me.

tubaonwheels

Decided to man up and do the tourmalet this morning, long climb! Got a bit wet on higher slopes, sun came out briefly when I was taking a few pics at the top, then it started snowing so I quickly got moving. My hands were so cold I could hardly feel them. Soon got back though to a welcome hot shower and a massive fry up - happy days